Restoration of the Bison is something that has been going on for the
past two decades. As a matter of fact, several Native American tribes have
come together to form the Inter Tribal Bison Cooperative (ITBC)
which has been set out to bring bison back onto the American plains in
the midwest. Bison have an intimate relationship in the traditions and
rituals of Native Americans. The importance of bison within the culture
has made bringing back the bison an important issue in the preservation
of wildlife. However, some of the arguments made by the ITBC show that
the bison's economic value should be the main factor why they should be
brought back. Yet others involved in this cause suggest that buffalo restoration
could be an alternative to failing rural areas in the prairies. Opposition
to this proposal comes mainly from those who reside in the affected areas.
This topic does involve parties that have different interests in buffalo
restoration.

Bison were considered a main part of the American economy. Prior to
the Civil War, hunters would trade and sell buffalo hide. Although some
were killed for meat, buffalo hide was in higher demand. However, after
the Civil War, the extensions of the railroads made it easier to transport
hides. The main desiccation of the bison came with the industrial revolution
(Manning, WWW). Since machinery became a mainstay in factories, part of
maintenance required belting. The demand of hide of bison, therefore, increased
since buffalo hide could be used as belts that would drive the machines
(Manning, WWW). Within a few decades only a thousand bison were left, after
the slaughter of 50 million. The depletion of bison did however spark an
interest in conservation and protection of wildlife. This new movement
to preserve wildlife caused a law to be passed in which harsh market hunting
of wild animals would be illegal (Manning, WWW).

One of the basic arguments for the restoration of bison back onto the
prairies involves the economic benefits. Five of the nations ten poorest
counties are located on Indian reservations (Manning, WWW). With decreasing
beef prices and increasing land values, the margin of profit continues
to narrow. A majority of the cattle industry that once was present in the
midwest have sought greener pastures east in states such as Florida, Tennessee,
and Kentucky (Popper, D). Another possible opponent, the Forest Service
also no longer seems to focus on maximizing their timber yields in the
midwest, but rather in northern California, Oregon, and Washington (Popper,
D). Bison offer a plausible solution due to their low cost (about half
as much as cattle). Bison are also better adapted to the environment and
produce the same amount of meat which is higher in protein, lower in cholesterol
and fat, compared to cattle. In terms of land usage, bison graze and then
move while cattle remain where they are thus damaging the soil. Bison also
eat a greater variety of grasses, something which lacks with cattle. A
proposal made by conservationists suggest that, "Ranchers can easily
switch to buffalo and sell hunting rights, meats, hides, horns, and skulls
at healthy prices (Popper DE, 1994)." Care of bison is also simple
because unlike cattle, bison can withstand plains' winters. Land value
also increases when it offers game (hunting) and tourism, rather than just
agriculture (Popper DE, 1994). Bison also play a large part in the Native
American culture.

Bison is the main supply of food for the annual Sun Dance. This dance,
which was recently resurrected played an important role in the history
of the plains tribes (Manning, WWW). Not only were bison used for as the
meat but hides were used for drum heads. The ceremony also uses the bleached
bison skull as the alter. In other tribal feasts including the sun dance,
the bison is the traditional food served. "Buffalo Help Heal the
Spirit", as the Native Americans say. This importance of buffalo
in the Native American culture has brought the individual tribes closer
together.

The Inter Tribal Bison Cooperative was formed in 1990 by a coalition
of tribes with the intention to reintroduce the bison into the plains.
Currently the ITBC consists of 28 tribes and own 3500 bison (Welker, WWW).
The reintroduction of bison involves many prairies across the United States
and into Canada, thus the ITBC does not concentrate on one particular area.
Fred DuBray, president of ITBC, does however discuss the Cheyenne River
Sioux Reservation, South Dakota The ITBC is funded through public and
private grants and donations and is a non-profit Tribal organization. The
board of directors consists of one Tribal representative from each member
Tribe. Native Americans are not the only ones involved with this effort.

Professor Frank Popper at Rutgers University says that within the plains,
a federally subsidized settlement and cultivation has produced a boom that
has led to overgrazing and overplowing (Popper FJ, 55). Thus, the soil
is dry, eroded, and the land has lost its value. Many counties have already
lost their last doctor, banker, or farm-implements dealer. The graduating
high school classes do not reach double figures (Popper DE, 144). Since
the rural parts of the prairies have been losing population over time,
a proper solution would be to bring the bison into those areas. Although
it would be beneficial to our ecosystem, as well as improve the soil, it
seems unlikely that this would happen. The Poppers do however have a list
of five warning signs of areas that are in distress. These five include
a decreased population, poverty level, average age, population density,
and soil condition. In terms of population, a town like Mobridge which
lies near the North Dakota border, has lost 25 percent of its population
over the past fifteen years (Nikiforuk 1993). In terms of population density,
a majority of the midwest including Alaska has less then six people per
square mile (Popper, D). Frank and Deborah Popper have found counties in
10 states in which bison restoration would be more beneficial than their
current conditions (Popper FJ 1994). With this large amount of counties
in distress, it is likely that the government would play a role. The government,
however, will not intervene and help the depopulation due to likelihood
that the people of the affected areas would not be pleased. Like any issue,
opposition to buffalo restoration comes from those who reside in the plains.

When the Poppers' suggested converting over one hundred thousand square
miles of bankrupt soil into an ecological restoration, many "short-grass
dwellers" concluded that Deborah and Frank were "Stalinists"
(Nikiforuk 1993). Initially residents felt that intentions were to buy
the land, and kick people off thus bringing back the buffalo. Although
that is not the case, residents have said "that buffalo taste as tough
as a truck tire" (Nikiforuk 1993). Bison can not compare to what cattle
has done for the past 100 years, which is sustain a high demand. Many doubt
that bison will be able to do the same as cattle in the long run. Another
major concern from bison is their affect on cattle currently.

Some bison carry a disease called brucellosis which if passed to cattle
is believed to cause them to abort their calves (Robbins 1997). For this
reason, many bison have been slaughtered in the Yellowstone area. In fact,
about 500 bison have been killed over the past few years (McMillion 1997).
Although the Greater Yellowstone Coalition is attempting to prevent further
slaughtering, it is obvious that the main battle here is between the safety
of cattle versus the parks. The Agriculture Department is in charge making
sure that the bison do not spread this disease while those in the Interior
Department want to preserve the bison as wildlife. This battle leaves conservationists
on the outside looking in.

The Buffalo Commons, as it is called by Frank Popper, bridges conservation,
culture, economics, and ecology (Walters 1996). The opposition to this
proposal has died down in some areas due to more awareness within the residents
that this could work economically. Residents in these towns are now mostly
merchant shops, and for a buffalo restoration to take place, the people
would have to adjust their products. Some positives of bison restoration
is that it brings a physical relationship for Native American cultures,
provides better meat, and improves the land. A major negative is that brucellosis
could wipe out the cattle industry if bison were introduced in large numbers
as well as the demand for its meat would not be as high as cattle. At Montana
State University, a Bison studies program is currently in effect. MSU does
have a few references to the EcologicalEconomics. More works
regarding biological conservation, wildlife and range management, and
landscape ecology.

References

Center for Bison Studies, MSU-Bozeman. "Current Literature on Ecology
and Management of Bison" World Wide Web. December 6, 1996: www.montana.edu/wwwcbs/ecollit.html